Updating Commercial Public Policies

For the City of Kitchener, prepared a Commercial Policy Review which provided a recommended direction for the development of appropriate retail commercial policy in the City of Kitchener Official Plan that would be reflective and responsive to the current and future markets and retail trends. The project involved: the preparation of an inventory of existing and planned commercial space in the City to undertand Kitchener’s current commercial role in the region; a review of the retail commercial policy regime of the current City of Kitchener Official Plan; and proposing changes to the current policies that would allow the municipality to be responsive to existing and future trends in the retail sector of Kitchener.

NEW HOUSING ON MAIN STREETS
Working with the City of Toronto and its various departments, coordinated and completed an assessment of the economic feasibility of the City’s Housing on Main Streets initiative. Working with a major Toronto architectural firm, Baird/Sampson Architects and an Advisory Committee comprised of developers, architects, builders and non-profit housing providers, Mr. Burns provided the City with a realistic evaluation of the potential for this form of housing. The creation of new housing, reduction of development pressure in adjacent low density residential neighbourhoods and the further animation and strengthening of certain main streets as a key part of the urban fabric were fundamental City planning objectives addressed by the study and continue to be relevant to the new Official Plan.

URBAN DESIGN GUIDLINES AND REVITALIZATION STRATEGY
For the City of Burlington, SBPC was retained as part of a multi-disciplinary team to prepare an urban design guidelines and revitalization study for the Plains Road Corridor in the City of Burlington. The Plains Road Corridor had initially been developed in the mid 1900s to connect the City of Burlington and the City of Hamilton. It is surrounded primarily by low density residential neighbourhoods of a high quality and has what is now relatively dated ‘strip’ retail commercial development along the Road. Recently, new medium density residential condominium developments have developed along the Road. The City, in co-ordination with local residents and businesses, wants to upgrade the appearance of this Corridor and retained a consulting team to prepare a set of urban design guidelines and to outline the realistic development opportunities and appropriate city planning response along the Corridor.

ARTERIAL ROAD URBAN DESIGN GUIDLINE
For the Town of Newmarket and the Region of York, directed a study of the Regional Centre area focusing on the Yonge Street corridor in Newmarket. This study assessed the potential for intensified development and how urban design guidelines could direct this development into a more urban form which would create both a green and pedestrian-friendly public realm. Focus groups, surveys and on-the-street interviews, and a well-attended open house successfully canvassed and incorporated public opinion in the study.

CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
The University of Toronto developed a Master Plan for the St. George Campus. Mr. Burns was retained to determine and assess public comments regarding the Plan, which set out guiding principles and a land use plan for future campus development. This assessment involved consultation with institutions, nearby property owners, business associations and residents groups.

HERITAGE STREETSCAPE
For the City of Toronto, SBPC provided expert planning evidence at the Ontario Municipal Board regarding the heritage character of a streetscape in the Beach neighbourhood. The analysis prepared by Mr. Burns asked the Board to deny a severance for a residential property that would result in a century home being replaced by two contemporary homes that did not fit the existing context.

DOWNTOWN SECONDARY PLAN
For the City of Stoney Creek, managed a multi-disciplinary consulting team to prepare a Secondary Plan to guide future land use and development in its historic Olde Town area. Working with the City, led this team of architectural and engineering consultants to: assess new housing opportunities; determine the viability of encouraging more commercial activities; and identify the need for traffic and road improvements, community services, and engineering infrastructure.